When it comes to art and crafts, Odisha is a treasure trove of delights. Be it Ganjam, Sundargarh or Berhampur, each district has got its own tales of art and excellent craftsmanship. But, how do you get to witness the beauty of various art and craft forms under one roof? The answer lies at city's new hang-out zone, Kala Bhoomi. Spread over 12.68 acres, this lush green museum houses some amazing art works from remotest corners of the State. Not just for its art pieces, the museum is also creating buzz for various workshops and cultural activities being organised on its premises.
Cut-off from the hum drums of the smart city, this serene property at Pokhariput area lets the visitors get a feel of village life and acquaints them with the tribal culture too. The museum also hosts free walks for the visitors every Sunday. The Museum is divided into eight galleries, which are classified into two broad sections: handicrafts and handlooms. In the handicraft section, separate galleries are dedicated for terracotta, traditional paintings, stone and wood carvings, metal crafts and natural materials craft. The handloom segment is divided into three sub-sections: pre-weaving, handloom and tribal gallery.
Before you plan a visit to this wonderland of creativity, The City Express brings you what all you should check out at the museum:
Intricate designs
Collected from the remote villages in Ganjam district, these terracotta vases bear the traditional Ushakothi paintings. The paintings are based on the mythological episodes. While one of the vase presents Krishna leela, the other one has a painting depicting the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. One of these vases is 100-year-old. However, the original Ushakothi paintings found in caves in Sundargarh district are inspired by tantrik art.
Spot it at: Terracotta gallery
Giant tumbler
Terracotta tumblers or vessels are not uncommon. But, this one certainly is! And, its rare because of its jumbo size. Colloquially known as Ghuma or Tambi, this giant tumbler is used for storing grains by the villagers in Puri district. The curators of the museum have collected this 5.8 ft large grain container from Tarangtar village of Puri's Balipatna block.
Find it at: Terracotta gallery
Offering for the deity
The votive horses of terracotta are often sold in the local markets as decorative pieces. But, they are religiously important for villagers in Keonjhar district. These terracotta horses were collected from Haldarpur village in Keonjhar district. The locals there offer these horses to the village deity for the fulfilment of their wishes.
Here it is: Terracotta gallery
Art from Ramayana
The terracotta 'Lankapuri' monkeys have a connection with Ramayana. The art pieces, which resemble enraged Hanuman, are made in Sonepur. Children tie a rope to the tail of the monkey and lit it on fire during a local festival that is usually held between September and October. They go around the village with the 'lankapuri monkey' as part of their local tradition and re-enact the mythological episode of Hanuman setting Ravana's Lanka on fire.
Where is it? Terracotta gallery
Creative cards
According to some historians, the ganifa cards were brought to India by the Mughals. These cards then became a part of Indian culture as people in different region started playing the game. These cards are found in different States in the country. But, the motifs or paintings drawn on them change as per the local tradition. In Odisha's Puri and Ganjam district, these cards got a new name. They became popular by the name of 'Ganjapa cards'. The museum houses some of the Ganjapa cards that are still used for playing in villages. They bear pattachitra paintings on them.
Spot these at: Traditional painting gallery
From the house of aristocrats
This section showcases a collection of dinnerwares and utensils which were used by the elites or aristocrats during the medieval period in Ganjam and Mayurbhanj districts.The objects are all made up of various kinds of stones. One of the most interesting and oldest item in this collection is a hot case of black granite. It was collected from Khiching village.
Where to find this: Wood and Stone gallery
Stone sculpture
Though most of the items in the museum are from ancient and medieval periods, there are a few from the modern times as well. This collection of white soap stone sculptures is one of the modern display. It has been crafted by national-award winning artisan, Ashok Maharana from Khurda district. This section also has an interesting wooden forearm armour used by Paika rebels. The section also showcases stone carvings from ancient temples. These ruins are from eight and tenth century. The oldest among all of these is the broken statue of sitting Buddha, crafted out of black granite. It has been donated to the gallery by the State Museum.
Spot it at: Stone and wood gallery
Grains of brilliance
This collection showcases the beauty of paddy craft. The tiny grains are held together using bamboo and then shaped as different structures. This form of art is popular in Balangir, Kandhamal and Nabrangpur districts.
Check out: Natural materials craft gallery
Of silks, colours and loom
This is one of the most fascinating sections of the museum. You get to see how Ikat sarees are woven, tied and dyed: from start to finish. As you enter the room, you get the smell of cocoons. The gallery has a collection of various cocoons and silk yarns. Odisha is known for its use of organic colours for Ikat. The gallery showcases how organic colours derived from catchu, lac, aul bark, pomegranate skin, marigold, jack fruit and indigo look like. The handloom section has a gallery dedicated to a collection of Ikat sarees with the most complex designs. The oldest one in the collection belongs to Bargarh. It was woven in 1917. The award-winning pieces of artisan Jharna Meher are also on the display. One of her sarees, has yoga postures and 'yoga for life' written in several languages. The other one bears mathematical formulas.
Find it at: Handloom section
Spruce up your home
The last segment of the museum showcases how various art and craft items of Odisha can be used for sprucing up the interiors in a modern household.